DH and I discussed this before we purchased our first snek - as a kid who grew up watching NatGeo, I have always enjoyed watching "things eating things".

(Last night while we were working on the Carpet enclosure, we watched a few toads out on the driveway eating the stupid flying beetles that come into the garage and bother us - we flicked a few back outside and the toads came rushing to the "buffet"... fun to watch and root for our little exterminators!)

I figured on live-feeding being part of the entertainment of owning a snek. DH stressed that we would not be live-feeding, and when I put on my best pout, he explained the potential dangers (which I understand can be mitigated by being a responsible and watchful participant in the feeding), but added - why add the additional complication? Snek doesn't get any more satisfaction out of hunting live prey than "hunting" what we offer it at the end of tongs, and when we start feeding larger things to our growing sneks, it's normal and natural to expect a grown rodent to fight for its life and cause damage in the process.

We are going to avoid live-feeding as a matter of simplicity - easier storage (frozen), easier for potential pet-sitters, and it removes the potential for food-related injuries... one less thing thing worry about. :) I am a chronic worrier, so this is the clincher for me.